Two hotels designed for Dubai World Central in advance of Expo 2020

Dubai World Central is about to build two hotels as the emirate’s new aviation center develops.

Two hotels designed for Dubai World Central in advance of Expo 2020

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has inked a franchise contract with Abjar Hotels International to construct a 450-room Holiday Inn and a 250-room Staybridge Suites in close proximity to Al Maktoum International Airport.

When finished, Al Maktoum airport will be the world’s largest and will be able to accommodate to 200 million passengers yeary.

According to Pascal Gauvin, regional chief operating officer at IHG, Dubai is a major development city in the Middle East and with the expansion of new infrastructure they see better chances to create the brands’ presence. Dubai World Central is set to become a major commercial hub with huge potential to provide the increase in business and leisure travel.

The Holiday Inn property will be the fifth to open in the UAE. The Staybridge Suites will cater to guests on extended visits and will feature rooms with fully-equipped kitchens.

It will be the brand’s first in the Middle East to open under the franchise model with two other hotels set to open within the next three to five years in the country.

Dubai is anticipating 25 million guests for Expo 2020, of which approximately 70% will be from out of the country. The 145 square kilometre Dubai World Central, the first city to be intended around an airport, is estimated to play host to the majority of the visitors.

UAE-based Abjar Hotels International has five IHG properties in its file in Dubai. IHG’s file includes 17 hotels across five brands in the UAE including Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, InterContinental, and Holiday Inn Express and Staybridge Suites.

The corporation will start nine hotels in the next three to five years.